Lens barrel

Abstract

A lens barrel having a focusing lens and a zooming lens comprises a focusing motor which serves as a drive source for moving the focusing lens; and a zooming motor which serves as a drive source for moving the zooming lens. In the lens barrel, the output shafts of the two motors are located between a diaphragm unit and a focal plane and extend approximately perpendicularly to an optical axis; a focusing transmission shaft is arranged in parallel to the optical axis in such a way as to transmit the rotation of the output shaft of the focusing motor to a focusing lens holding part; and a zooming transmission shaft is arranged also in parallel to the optical axis to transmit the rotation of the output shaft of the zooming motor to a zooming lens holding part.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A lens barrel having a focusing lens and a zooming lens, comprising: a) a focusing motor arranged to serve as a drive source for moving said focusing lens;   b) a zooming motor arranged to serve as a drive source for moving said zooming lens;   c) a diaphragm unit, output shafts of, said two motors being located between a diaphragm blade of said diaphragm unit and an optical focal plane and extending perpendicular to an optical axis;   d) a focusing transmission shaft arranged in parallel to said optical axis in such a way as to transmit the rotation of the output shaft of said focusing motor to a lens holding part arranged to hold said focusing lens; and   e) a zooming transmission shaft arranged in parallel to said optical axis in such a way as to transmit the rotation of the output shaft of said zooming motor to a lens holding part arranged to hold said zooming lens.   
     
     
       2. A lens barrel according to claim 1, wherein each of said output shafts and the respective one of said transmission shafts are coupled with each other through a gear mechanism which includes a worm. 
     
     
       3. A lens barrel according to claim 2, further comprising a holding member which unitizes one of said motors and said worm, said holding member being arranged to rotatably carry one end of each of said transmission shafts. 
     
     
       4. A lens barrel according to claim 1, wherein said two motors are arranged to have said two output shafts approximately in parallel to each other. 
     
     
       5. A lens barrel according to claim 1, wherein said two motors have their two output shafts arranged approximately around said optical axis. 
     
     
       6. A lens barrel according to claim 5, wherein said two motors are arranged in positions which overlap with a driving part of said diaphragm unit in the direction of said optical axis. 
     
     
       7. A lens barrel having a focusing lens and a zooming lens, comprising: a) a focusing motor arranged to serve as a drive source for moving said focusing lens;   b) a zooming motor arranged to serve as a drive source for moving said zooming lens;   c) a diaphragm unit having a driving part disposed in a position deviating therefrom in the diametral direction of said lens barrel, two output shafts of said two motors being arranged to extend approximately perpendicularly to an optical axis between a diaphragm blade of said diaphragm unit and an optical focal plane, and said two motors being disposed to overlap with the driving part of said diaphragm unit in the direction of said optical axis; and   e) a plurality of transmission shafts arranged in parallel to said optical axis in such a way as to receive the rotation of said output shafts respectively, the rotation of said plurality of transmission shafts being used for moving said focusing lens and said zooming lens in the direction of said optical axis.   
     
     
       8. A lens barrel according to claim 7, wherein each of said output shafts and the respective one of said transmission shafts are coupled with each other through a gear mechanism which includes a worm. 
     
     
       9. A lens barrel according to claim 8, wherein said two motors are arranged to have said two output shafts approximately in parallel to each other. 
     
     
       10. A lens barrel according to claim 4, wherein said two motors are disposed at their respective positions which are opposite to each other at intervals of approximately 180 degrees on the radially outer side of said diaphragm unit. 
     
     
       11. A lens barrel according to claim 4, wherein said two motors are disposed at their respective positions which are opposite to each other at intervals of approximately 180 degrees on the radially outer side of a driving part in said diaphragm unit. 
     
     
       12. A lens barrel according to claim 2, wherein at least one of said transmission shafts is disposed on the radially inner side of said lens barrel with respect to said worm. 
     
     
       13. A lens barrel according to claim 7, wherein said two motors are disposed, at their respective positions which are opposite to each other at intervals of approximately 180 degrees on the radially outer side of said diaphragm unit. 
     
     
       14. A lens barrel according to claim 9, wherein said two motors are disposed at their respective positions which are opposite to each other at intervals of approximately 180 degrees on the radially outer side of a driving part in said diaphragm unit. 
     
     
       15. A lens barrel according to claim 8, wherein at least one of said transmission shafts is disposed on the radially inner side of said lens barrel with respect to said worm. 
     
     
       16. An optical apparatus having a focusing lens and a zooming lens, comprising: a) a focusing motor arranged to serve as a drive source for moving said focusing lens;   b) a zooming motor arranged to serve as a drive source for moving said zooming lens;   c) a diaphragm unit, output shafts of said two motors being located between a diaphragm blade of said diaphragm unit and an optical focal plane and extending perpendicularly to an optical axis;   d) a focusing transmission shaft arranged in parallel to said optical axis in such a way as to transmit the rotation of the output shaft of said focusing motor to a lens holding part arranged to hold said focusing lens; and   e) a zooming transmission shaft arranged in parallel to said optical axis in such a way as to transmit the rotation of the output shaft of said zooming motor to a lens holding part arranged to hold said zooming lens.   
     
     
       17. An optical apparatus according to claim 16, wherein each of said output shafts and the respective one of said transmission shafts are coupled with each other through a gear mechanism which includes a worm. 
     
     
       18. An optical apparatus according to claim 17, further comprising a holding member which unitizes one of said motors and said worm, said holding member being arranged to rotatably carry one end of each of said transmission shafts. 
     
     
       19. An optical apparatus according to claim 16, wherein said two motors are arranged to have said two output shafts approximately in parallel to each other. 
     
     
       20. An optical apparatus according to claim 16, wherein said two motors have their two output shafts arranged approximately around said optical axis. 
     
     
       21. An optical apparatus according to claim 20, wherein said two motors are arranged in positions which overlap with a driving part of said diaphragm unit in the direction of said optical axis. 
     
     
       22. An optical apparatus having a focusing lens and a zooming lens, comprising: a) a focusing motor arranged to serve as a drive source for moving said focusing lens;   b) a zooming motor arranged to serve as a drive source for moving said zooming lens;   c) a diaphragm unit having a driving part disposed in a position deviating therefrom in the diametral direction of said lens barrel, two output shafts of said two motors being arranged to extend approximately perpendicularly to an optical axis between a diaphragm blade of said diaphragm unit and an optical focal plane, and said two motors being disposed to overlap with the driving part of said diaphragm unit in the direction of said optical axis; and   e) a plurality of transmission shafts arranged in parallel to said optical axis in such a way as to receive the rotation of said output shafts respectively, the rotation of said plurality of transmission shafts being used for moving said focusing lens and said zooming lens in the direction of said optical axis.   
     
     
       23. An optical apparatus according to claim 22, wherein each of said output shafts and the respective one of said transmission shafts are coupled with each other through a gear mechanism which includes a worm. 
     
     
       24. An optical apparatus according to claim 23, wherein said two motors are arranged to have said two output shafts approximately in parallel to each other. 
     
     
       25. An optical apparatus according to claim 19, wherein said two motors are disposed at their respective positions which are opposite to each other at intervals of approximately 180 degrees on the radially outer side of said diaphragm unit. 
     
     
       26. An optical apparatus according to claim 19, wherein said two motors are disposed at their respective positions which are opposite to each other at intervals of approximately 180 degrees on the radially outer side of a driving part in said diaphragm unit. 
     
     
       27. An optical apparatus according to claim 17, wherein at least one of said transmission shafts is disposed on the radially inner side of said lens barrel with respect to said worm. 
     
     
       28. An optical apparatus according to claim 22, wherein said two motors are disposed at their respective positions which are opposite to each other at intervals of approximately 180 degrees on the radially outer side of said diaphragm unit. 
     
     
       29. An optical apparatus according to claim 24, wherein said two motors are disposed at their respective positions which are opposite to each other at intervals of approximately 180 degrees on the radially outer side of a driving part in said diaphragm unit. 
     
     
       30. An optical apparatus according to claim 16, further comprising: an image sensor; and   a processing circuit provided for said image sensor.   
     
     
       31. An optical apparatus according to claim 17, further comprising: an image sensor; and   a processing circuit provided for said image sensor.   
     
     
       32. An optical apparatus according to claim 22, further comprising: an image sensor; and   a processing circuit provided for said image sensor.   
     
     
       33. An optical apparatus according to claim 23, further comprising: an image sensor; and   a processing circuit provided for said image sensor.   
     
     
       34. A lens barrel having a focusing lens and a zooming lens comprising: a) a focusing motor arranged to serve as a drive source for moving said focusing lens;   b) a zooming motor arranged to serve as a drive source for moving said zooming lens;   c) output shafts of said two motors extending perpendicularly to an optical axis, said two motors being arranged at an almost same position in the direction of the optical axis, and     said output shafts of said two motors transmitting the rotation to transmission members having a rotation axis line parallel to the optical axis by means of a gear mechanism having a worm gear.   
     
     
       35. A lens barrel according to claim 34, wherein said two motors are arranged to have said two output shafts approximately in parallel to each other. 
     
     
       36. A lens barrel according to claim 34, further comprising a diaphragm unit. 
     
     
       37. A lens barrel according to claim 34, wherein said two motors are arranged near said diaphragm unit. 
     
     
       38. A lens barrel according to claim 34, wherein one of said transmission members is arranged to transmit the rotation of the output shaft of said focusing motor to a focusing lens holding part, and another of said transmission members is arranged to transmit the rotation of the output shaft of said zooming motor to a zooming lens holding part. 
     
     
       39. A lens barrel according to claim 34, wherein said output shaft of said two motors protrude on the same side. 
     
     
       40. An optical apparatus having a focusing lens and a zooming lens, comprising: a) a focusing motor arranged to serve as a drive source for moving said focusing lens;   b) a zooming motor arranged to serve as a drive source for moving said zooming lens;   c) a diaphragm unit, output shafts of, said two motors being located between a diaphragm blade of said diaphragm unit and an optical focal plane and extending perpendicular to an optical axis;   d) a focusing transmission shaft arranged in parallel to said optical axis in such a way as to transmit the rotation of the output shaft of said focusing motor to a lens holding part arranged to hold said focusing lens; and   e) a zooming transmission shaft arranged in parallel to said optical axis in such a way as to transmit the rotation of the output shaft of said zooming motor to a lens holding part arranged to hold said zooming lens.   
     
     
       41. An optical apparatus according to claim 40, wherein said two motors are arranged to have said two output shafts approximately in parallel to each other. 
     
     
       42. An optical apparatus according to claim 40, further comprising a diaphragm unit, 
     
     
       43. An optical apparatus according to claim 40, wherein said two motors are arranged near said diaphragm unit. 
     
     
       44. An optical apparatus according to claim 40, wherein said output shaft of said two motors protrude on the same side. 
     
     
       45. An optical apparatus according to claim 40, further comprising: an image sensor; and   a processing circuit provided for said image sensor.   
     
     
       46. A lens barrel having a focusing lens and a zooming lens, comprising: a) a focusing motor arranged to serve as a drive source for moving said focusing lens;   b) a zooming motor arranged to serve as a drive source for moving said zooming lens;   c) output shafts of said two motors extending perpendicularly to an optical axis,   said two motors being arranged at an almost same position in the direction of the optical axis,   d) a diaphragm unit, said two motors being arranged near said diaphragm unit, and said output shafts of said two motors transmitting the rotation to transmission members having a rotation axis line parallel to the optical axis by means of a gear mechanism having a worm gear.   
     
     
       47. A lens barrel according to claim 46, wherein said two motors are arranged to have said two output shafts approximately in parallel to each other. 
     
     
       48. A lens barrel according to claim 46, further comprising a first transmission member arranged to transmit the rotation of the output shaft of said focusing motor to a focusing lens holding part, and a second transmission member arranged to transmit the rotation of the output shaft of said zooming motor to a zooming lens holding part. 
     
     
       49. A lens barrel according to claim 46, wherein said output shafts of said two motors protrude on the same side. 
     
     
       50. An optical apparatus having a focusing lens and a zooming lens, comprising: a) a focusing motor arranged to serve as a drive source for moving said focusing lens;   b) a zooming motor arranged to serve as a drive source for moving said zooming lens;   c) output shafts of said two motors extending perpendicularly to an optical axis,   d) a diaphragm unit, said two motors being arranged near said diaphragm unit, and said output shafts of said two motors transmitting the rotation to transmission members having a rotation axis line parallel to the optical axis by means of a gear mechanism having a worm gear.   
     
     
       51. An optical apparatus according to claim 50, wherein said two motors are arranged to have said two output shafts approximately in parallel to each other. 
     
     
       52. An optical apparatus according to claim 50, further comprising a flat transmission member arranged to transmit the rotation of the output shaft of said focusing motor to a focusing lens holding part, and a second transmission member arranged to transmit the rotation of the output shaft of said zooming motor to a zooming lens holding part. 
     
     
       53. An optical apparatus according to claim 52, wherein said first and second transmission members have a rotation axis line parallel to the optical axis. 
     
     
       54. An optical apparatus according to claim 50, wherein said output shafts of said two motors protrude on the same side. 
     
     
       55. An optical apparatus according to claim 50, further comprising: an image sensor; and   a processing circuit provided for said image sensor.